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The Shocking Semifinals Cut: 5 Reasons Why Whitney Leavitt Was Eliminated From Dancing With The Stars

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The most recent elimination from *Dancing with the Stars* (DWTS) sent shockwaves through the ballroom, proving once again that high scores don't guarantee a spot in the finals. As of December 20, 2025, the last celebrity to be "cut" from the competition right before the grand finale was reality TV star and social media sensation, Whitney Leavitt, alongside her professional partner, Mark Ballas. Her elimination in the Semifinals of Season 34 was a major upset, leaving fans and even some of the judges stunned, especially considering the high marks she received for her performances.

Whitney Leavitt's journey on DWTS was defined by both high-flying routines and surprising low points, but her exit was particularly dramatic because it happened so close to the end. The Semifinals are notoriously brutal, requiring couples to perform two dances in a single night—a challenge that often separates the finalists from the rest of the pack. Leavitt's departure highlighted the immense power of the public vote and the unpredictable nature of the show's elimination process.

Whitney Leavitt: Biography, Career, and DWTS Journey

Whitney Leavitt, a prominent figure in the world of social media and reality television, brought a pre-existing dance background and a massive online following to the DWTS ballroom. Her profile is a blend of digital stardom and reality TV drama, making her a polarizing and highly discussed contestant.

  • Full Name: Whitney Leavitt (née Ellis)
  • Date of Birth: May 12, 1993
  • Age: 32 (as of December 2025)
  • Hometown: Utah, U.S.
  • Primary Profession: Media Personality, Dancer, Actress, and TikTok Star.
  • Rise to Fame: Gained initial prominence as a member of the viral "MomTok" group of Mormon mothers who posted dance and comedy videos on TikTok.
  • Reality TV Career: She is a main cast member on the Hulu reality television series, *The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives* (2024–present), where she is often characterized as the show's "villain."
  • DWTS Partner: Mark Ballas (Season 34)
  • DWTS Elimination: Eliminated in the Semifinals (Week 10) of Season 34.

Leavitt entered the competition with a competitive dance history, which immediately set expectations high. Paired with three-time Mirrorball champion Mark Ballas, the couple was dubbed 'Team Ballas Leavitt' and delivered several memorable routines, including a stunning Paso Doble and a powerful Contemporary dance. Despite their technical skill, they often found themselves in the middle of the leaderboard, struggling to secure the top spot consistently.

The Semifinals Showdown: Dances and Scores

The Season 34 Semifinals were an intense competition, featuring six couples battling for the four spots in the finale. Each couple performed two routines: a redemption dance chosen by one of the judges and a brand-new style. The pressure was immense, and the scores reflected the high-stakes environment.

Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas performed two dances that night:

  1. Redemption Dance (Cha-Cha): This dance was aimed at improving their technique, a factor the judges—Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli—had often critiqued.
  2. New Routine (Viennese Waltz): A classic, elegant dance that tested their grace and connection.

Their scores were impressive. For one of their dances, they received a near-perfect 29 out of a possible 30 points, placing them near the top of the leaderboard for the night, just behind couples like Robert Irwin and Witney Carson. This high score is what made the subsequent elimination so shocking to viewers and the couple themselves. The combined scores and viewer votes determined the final result, and unfortunately for Team Ballas Leavitt, the public vote did not align with the judges' high marks.

5 Key Factors That Led to Whitney Leavitt's DWTS Elimination

The elimination of a high-scoring couple like Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas is rarely about a single factor. It’s a complex interplay of judges’ scores, public perception, and the strength of the competition. Here are the five most significant reasons why they were cut from the show in the Semifinals:

1. The Power of the Public Vote Over Judges' Scores

DWTS eliminations are a combination of 50% judges' scores and 50% viewer votes. While Whitney and Mark scored a near-perfect 29, their final position on the leaderboard was not enough to overcome a deficit in the public vote. This is a common phenomenon in DWTS where a celebrity with a massive, dedicated fan base (often a younger, more active voting demographic) can outlast technically superior dancers. The public simply did not vote for Whitney in the numbers required to save her from the bottom two.

2. Fierce Competition in the Semifinals

Season 34 was stacked with strong contenders. The Semifinals were particularly competitive, featuring fan favorites and high-scoring couples. Whitney was up against eventual winners Robert Irwin and Witney Carson, as well as other popular stars like Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy, and Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach. In a tight race, even a small dip in votes can send a couple home. The other couples’ fan bases proved to be more mobilized in the final stretch.

3. The "Villain" Narrative from Reality TV

Whitney Leavitt’s reality TV persona from *The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives* often painted her as the show's "villain." While this generated significant buzz and curiosity, it may have alienated a segment of the DWTS audience, which traditionally favors wholesome, underdog, or redemption narratives. The public’s perception of a celebrity often heavily influences their voting habits, and this pre-existing narrative could have worked against her.

4. Inconsistency in Performance Quality

While Whitney and Mark delivered a stunning performance in the Semifinals, their journey was marked by a degree of inconsistency. They had several routines that drew criticism from the judges, particularly regarding her technique and emotional connection. In a competition this far along, viewers tend to reward consistency. The memory of her lower-scoring routines earlier in the season may have lingered in the minds of voters.

5. The Mark Ballas Factor and Partner Controversy

Mark Ballas is a beloved and highly successful DWTS pro. However, some viewers feel that a celebrity paired with a well-established, multiple-time champion like Ballas might not need their vote as much as a celebrity paired with a newer or less successful pro. This phenomenon, sometimes called "vote-splitting," can subtly impact the final tally. Furthermore, the partnership, while technically strong, may not have resonated with the audience on an emotional level as strongly as other couples.

What Happens Next for Whitney Leavitt?

Despite the disappointing Semifinals exit, Whitney Leavitt's appearance on *Dancing with the Stars* significantly raised her profile beyond her established TikTok and reality TV fan bases. Her journey proved her capability as a competitive dancer and gave her an opportunity to showcase a more vulnerable side to her personality, which was a stark contrast to her reality TV persona. She has publicly expressed gratitude for the experience and her partnership with Mark Ballas, and is expected to return to her work on *The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives* and her social media platforms with a much larger, more diverse following. Her DWTS run, though ending abruptly, solidified her status as a major media personality.

The Shocking Semifinals Cut: 5 Reasons Why Whitney Leavitt Was Eliminated from Dancing with the Stars
who got cut from dancing with the stars
who got cut from dancing with the stars

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